Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
TYLER – A man died from unknown causes at a Tyler ISD job site Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, a police department spokesperson said the man died while working at the Tyler Legacy High School tennis courts. Other workers were reportedly present. Tyler PD said the body was sent for autopsy to determine the cause of death. His identity has not been released. Additional details were not available.
SMITH COUNTY — Nearly 30 people attended the third Smith County Citizen Input Meeting in Lindale Thursday evening to discuss the six-year Road and Bridge Capital Improvement Project, according to a news release. “It was a wonderful turnout,†Precinct 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips said. “This is what we hope for when we hold community meetings. It was great to hear from our citizens about the roads that are important to them.â€Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran and County Engineer Frank Davis explained the road bond program with the crowd of 27 people, and answered questions about specific roads. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an ATM robbery at a local bank early Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to an alarm just after 3 a.m. at American State Bank on Loop 323 and New Copeland Road. A silver pickup truck that is believed to belong to the robber was abandoned at the scene and investigators said they are trying to track him down on foot. The truck was left behind with the keys still in the ignition and the engine running. It is unclear how much money was stolen from the ATM or how many people were involved.
EAST TEXAS — Texas wants to allow social media users to sue if they get censored by a website. East Texas Senator Bryan Hughes compares Facebook and Twitter to a utility. Hughes says that access to social media sites has become as much needed as a television signal or a phone connection, because that’s how people get their news. Hughes says we are driven further apart when political views are muted. Florida passed a similar bill, but it was blocked last month by a federal judge who ruled that it was unconstitutional.
AUSTIN — A privacy bill authored by an East Texas senator was signed into law, and soon Texans should see fewer robo-calls as a result. According to our news partner KETK, Sen. Robert Nichols, of Jacksonville, authored Senate Bill 15 “to defend consumer privacyâ€. The bill will limit state agencies abilities to sell or disclose personal information to third parties. “Not only will your personal information be protected, Texans won’t have as many ‘robo-calls’ bothering them because of SB15,†Nichols tweeted. As it stood before this law, The Department of Public Safety and the Department of Motor Vehicles were able to sell, disclose and allow the resale of personal information attached to vehicles. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man accused of stabbing a man to death nearly two dozen times in 2019 has had his trial set for September. According to our news partner KETK, 41-year-old Humberto Leal is accused of stabbing Luis Rene Maruffo-Castaneda at his home north of the Tyler city limits on June 30, 2019. According to an arrest warrant obtained at the time, when a Smith County detective arrived on the scene, he found Castaneda dead in the driver seat of his car. He then interviewed Leal, who claimed Castaneda was trying to kill him and he stabbed him in self-defense. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY –Gregg County residents who received a jury duty summons for Monday are no longer required to appear. According to the Longview News-Journal, Gregg County District Clerk Trey Hattaway said the cases set for next week are resolved, and prospective jurors are no longer needed.
GUN BARREL CITY — A man was arrested after a large amount of methamphetamine was found in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Gun Barrel City. According to our news partner KETK, on Friday, Christopher Morgan drove his dark colored SUV out of a gas station parking lot and was traveling eastbound on Main Street when he was stopped by Deputy Meagan Hogan. While conducting the traffic stop, a vehicle search was conducted and law enforcement found a ‘large amount’ of methamphetamine in Morgan’s vehicle. Morgan was arrested and taken to the Henderson County Jail.
SMITH COUNTY — The plea deadline for two Smith County parents charged in the death of their three-year-old daughter has been set for August 12. According to our news partner KETK, 40-year-old Manuel Williams and 31-year-old Courtnie Williams both could face the death penalty. 241st District Court Judge Jack Skeen gave the couple a little more than a month to decide whether they will go to trial. On July 15, 2020, first responders found Kodie Williams, 3, unresponsive in her Tyler home. Police found that she “had numerous bruises to the face,†according to a warrant obtained by KETK. She was rushed to a local hospital where she later died. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview Police filed multiple charges with the DA’s office in connection to a shooting incident that happened Wednesday at a Motel 6. According to our news partner KETK, a domestic disturbance turned into a shooting, police said. Witnesses told officers that a male was assaulting a female by attempting to strangle her in one of the motel rooms. Police say a third person went to the victim’s defense and shot the male subject. The injured male remains in a local hospital. Because of the circumstances around the case, LPD will file two criminal offense charges with the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for review and presentation to the Gregg County Grand Jury. Identities have not been released.
TYLER — Vexus Fiber says it will spend $50 million to bring its ‘fiber-to-the-home’ network to Tyler and Whitehouse. According to our news partner KETK, Vexus Fiber plans to have full-network completion within two years, said a statement from the company. Some neighborhoods and businesses in Tyler will see network availability as soon as the first quarter of next year. “We are thrilled to announce our expansion into Tyler,†Jim Gleason, CEO of Vexus, said in news release. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — On Thursday morning, Smith County Criminal District Attorney Jacob Putman announced his run for re-election. He took office January 1, 2018. In a press release, Putman said his office has made significant strides in improving the office while continuing tough punishments for serious offenders. He went on to list a few of those improvements: Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Bullard man who federal prosecutors say is a member of the white supremacist Aryan Circle gang pleaded guilty Tuesday to being among those who attacked a man in 2016 and other crimes. According to our news partner KETK, Anthony Levi Cochran, 39, admitted in court that as a member of the gang he beat someone, was involved in a conspiracy to sell firearms to a convicted felon and participated in racketeering. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and will be sentenced later. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Smith County is continuing to buy properties east of the downtown Tyler square as part of its plans to one day build a new courthouse there. According to our news partner KETK, on Tuesday, the commissioners court unanimously approved buying the property at 219 E. Ferguson St. from ALDCO LLC for $218,000. Earlier this year, an architectural group presented a detailed plan for a seven-story courthouse that spanned more than 230,000 square feet. If a parking garage is added, the cost would be about $140 million. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Hallsville woman is behind bars Wednesday morning after allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old child. According to our news partner KETK, 23-year-old Lindsey Kelley allegedly took the child from a home near Hallsville around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night. As the department was set to issue an Amber Alert, the sheriff’s office received a tip that she may have gone to Longview. The tipster also said that Kelley had made past threats “implying that she might sell her children for unknown reasons.†Read the rest of this entry »